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127 patients go missing from wards
Two found collapsed in grounds
MORE than 100 patients have disappeared from wards at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead in the past three years, the New Journal can reveal.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act show 127 patients have gone missing since October 2003, almost one patient a week.
More than half of these were lost for over four hours.
A Royal Free spokeswoman said: “Patients at the Royal Free are at liberty to come and go as they wish. In cases where patients are considered to be vulnerable, they are assessed on an individual basis so, if necessary, appropriate surveillance can be put in place.”
The New Journal requested the figures after reporting on the death of 77-year-old Denis Cameron in October.
Mr Cameron, who lived in Fitzjohn’s Avenue, Hampstead, was in an elderly care ward at the Royal Free. He disappeared for several hours, and was later found in the hospital grounds. It is believed he fell an estimated 25 feet to his death.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Camden police were brought in to investigate the death. An inquest is due to be held in January.
An HSE spokeswoman said: “We conducted a thorough investigation but it was decided this wasn’t a work-related incident. It now rests with the coroner.”
A Healthcare Commission (HCC) spokeswoman said: “Concerns were raised relating to the nursing staffing levels and the quality of care provided by the Royal Free.
“The HCC has followed up these concerns with the trust to seek further information and clarification. We will be writing to the trust again before the end of the year, setting out our findings.”
The FOI figures show how 35 of the missing patients left wards because they refused to stay in hospital, while 32 were clinically confused or agitated.
Two collapsed in the hospital grounds. Another 25 left to feed a drug addiction and two absconded from police custody.
Other reasons for leaving included going shopping, using cash machines, going to the cafeteria (nine patients) and being taken away by a parent (one).
Eight mental health patients also refused to stay.
In all cases, CCTV was reviewed, and next of kin and police were informed. |
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